Healthwatch Essex is delighted to be starting 2026 with an exciting opportunity to join their award-winning Carers Voices team.
They are currently recruiting a Carers Voices Officer to join the Information and Guidance Team.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about ensuring unpaid carers are heard and supported. The successful candidate will play a key role in reaching out to carers, engaging with them, and listening to their experiences to help shape and improve services.
You can find full details about the role and how to apply below:
Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your networks and including it in any relevant circulars. The webpage can be accessed here: 👉 https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/get-involved
Essex County Council & Connect Futures is promoting a series of free online workshops designed to help people feel safer, more confident, and better informed when navigating online information.
We’re asking partners to help spread the word through newsletters, networks and community channels – and please do encourage onward sharing.
👨👩👧 Workshops for Parents
Misinformation, Community and Online Safety
These sessions support parents to better understand:
What misinformation and disinformation are, and where they’re most commonly encountered
How to recognise symbols of hate and misleading online narratives
What is legal and illegal online in relation to hate and harmful content
Practical ways to talk to children about what they’re seeing online
The workshops are welcoming, interactive and delivered by trained facilitators, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
Spot common tricks used in misleading posts, viral rumours and emotionally charged content
Understand how images, headlines and algorithms influence reactions
Recognise how scams, fraud and misinformation often overlap
Use simple tools to check whether information is trustworthy before sharing
No technical skills are needed – just curiosity. Sessions are friendly, jargon-free and focused on staying safe online. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
There will also be train-the-trainer sessions (one for each workshop). If you know practitioners or community leaders who may be interested, please get in touch to receive full details. They are also very welcome to attend a standard session first to see how it’s delivered.
Looking for a calm and culture-filled way to spend your Saturday afternoons? Screentime Free Film Club invites you to step away from everyday distractions and enjoy a thoughtfully curated film screening each week at Harlow Central Library.
Taking place every Saturday from 2.00 – 4.00 pm, the club offers free film screenings in a welcoming, friendly environment. There’s no need to book—just turn up, take a seat, and enjoy. Refreshments are available at a small charge, making it the perfect excuse to settle in and unwind.
The programme showcases a diverse range of classic, international, and independent films, offering something a little different from mainstream cinema and a great opportunity to discover hidden gems from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned film lover or simply curious to try something new, you’ll find a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
So why not make it part of your weekend routine? Drop in, switch off your screens, and let the film take you somewhere new.
Now the Government has launched the public consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Essex we wanted to share some additional information and support that might prove useful in your thinking and forming your own response. The Government is keen to receive feedback from organisations like yours from across Essex and your input is vital to ensure public services remain effective and efficient.
You are able to have your say on all four proposals under consideration. You can review them here: https://www.essexlgrhub.org/stronger-greater-essex. The consultation asks eight questions for each proposal.
To support you in responding to the Essex County Council three new unitary councils proposal please see the following documents:
Our summary ‘Response to the Consultation’ in respect of the Essex County Council proposal for three new unitary councils.
The annex to the ECC Consultation Response on Neighbourhoods and Localism which might be of particular interest.
Alongside the annex on Neighbourhoods and Localism there are also the following annexes which can be found on the full response here LGR consultation response.docx, which might also be helpful when developing your response to the three new unitary councils proposal.
Finances
Social care and education
Economy and housing growth
Deprivation
If you prefer, you can also email your views directly to LGRconsultationresponse@communities.gov.uk, but MHCLG has also asked that you please complete the online form as well to help with data collection.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
Parents 1st are pleased to offer parents and caregivers the unique opportunity to join our friendly and informal group running in Basildon in January 2026 to create a personal lullaby for their babies with the help of professional musicians.
You do not need to be able to sing or to write music! A skilled, professional musician will work with you to help you create your lullaby from start to finish. The lullabies will be recorded, giving you and your family something to treasure for years to come.
Where: Northlands Park Family Hub, Davenants, Basildon, Essex SS13 1QX
When: Fridays 9th January – 6th March 2026, 10:30am-12pm (some sessions will be held online, please see flyer for more details)
Cost: Free
For more information and to register your interest in joining the group, please visit the Parents 1st website:
This winter, people living with dementia or memory issues – along with their carers, friends and family – are warmly invited to join a wide range of free, friendly community groups taking place across Essex. These groups offer a welcoming space to get information, make new connections and enjoy meaningful activities together.
Across Mid, North, North West, South and West Essex, there is something for everyone. Popular Singing for the Brain® sessions use music to stimulate memory, lift mood and encourage social interaction, while Memory Cafés provide relaxed, supportive environments to chat and share experiences. For those who enjoy being active, there are Walk and Talk groups, seated movement and relaxation sessions, walking football, and other gentle activity groups designed to support wellbeing.
This winter programme also includes carers’ peer support and relaxation groups, offering carers valuable time to connect with others who understand their experiences, as well as local Winter Cafés and Hubs, providing warmth, companionship and practical support during the colder months.
All groups are free to attend, and no prior booking is required unless stated. Sessions take place regularly at accessible community venues including libraries, village halls, churches and leisure facilities throughout Essex.
If you or someone you support would benefit from joining a group, or if you would like more information about what’s available in your area, please get in touch:
Light Up a Life Day (5th December) is a time for reflection, remembrance, and connection. Whether you have lost a family member, friend, or someone who made a difference in your life, this day offers a moment to honour their memory and celebrate the love they brought into the world.
For many people, days like this can bring a mixture of emotions — comfort, sadness, gratitude, or a sense of longing. That’s why finding the right local support can make such a meaningful difference.
Find Local Bereavement Support on The Essex Map
Across Essex, many charities, hospices, community groups, and organisations provide compassionate support for those coping with loss. To help residents easily find this help, The Essex Map brings together local services in one accessible place.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet space to reflect, a group to share memories with, or professional guidance during a difficult time, The Essex Map can help you find what you need close to home.
🕯️ Supporting Light Up a Life Day in Your Community
Light Up a Life Day encourages individuals and communities to come together and celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Many local groups hold remembrance events, candle-lighting ceremonies, tree-decorating activities, or moments of collective reflection.
If your organisation is taking part or offering support around this day, The Essex Map is a valuable place to make your services visible to residents across Essex.
✨ Are You a Bereavement Charity or Support Group?
If you provide bereavement support, counselling, remembrance events, hospice care, or any other related services, you can list your organisation for free on The Essex Map.
Adding your service helps local people find the support they need, especially on days like Light Up a Life Day when many seek comfort and community.
👉 Add your organisation to The Essex Map here:www.essexmap.co.uk (navigate to the “Add a Listing” section) or email: communications@essexalliance.org.uk
By joining the map, you’ll be contributing to a county-wide network of support that ensures no one has to face loss alone.
🌈 You Are Not Alone
Light Up a Life Day reminds us that while loss is deeply personal, support is something we can share. Whether you’re remembering someone special or looking for ways to support others, The Essex Map is here to help you connect with services that care.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
The Government has now launched its public consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)across Greater Essex. This represents a significant opportunity for organisations, community groups, businesses, and residents to help shape what the future of local government could look like in our county.
Announced on 19 November 2025, the consultation covers all four unitary proposals submitted by councils across Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock. It will run until 11 January 2026, giving organisations across the voluntary and community sector vital time to feed back their views.
These proposals aim to simplify how local councils work, strengthen local decision-making, and improve the way services are delivered. This includes ensuring councils reflect local identity, operate efficiently, and deliver high-quality public services.
This is a unique opportunity for the VCS to influence decisions that will affect communities for years to come.
Why this matters to Essex Alliance members
Local Government Reorganisation has the potential to reshape:
how services are delivered
how local priorities are set
how communities engage with decision-making
the future structure and scale of local authorities across Greater Essex
Your insight—as organisations working closely with communities—is key to ensuring these proposals reflect local needs.
All the councils in Essex are working together to propose changes to how they are run. Each council – whether district, borough, city or county councils – might have their own ideas to share with the government.
These proposals are based on:
making sure decision making is as close to communities as possible
delivering value for money and efficient local services
what’s good for local businesses and voluntary sector organisations
Some ideas will be the same, but some will be different.
You can read the four proposals that councils in Greater Essex have sent to government HERE.
